Linux System Architecture & Installation Flashcards

Which directory contains hardware and driver information exposed by the kernel as virtual files?

Answer: /sys

/sys (sysfs) is a virtual filesystem that exposes kernel objects, hardware info, and driver parameters.

What is the purpose of the initramfs (initial RAM filesystem) during Linux boot?

Answer: Provide a temporary root filesystem before the real root is mounted

initramfs loads a temporary root filesystem into RAM so the kernel can mount the real root filesystem.

Which command displays the system's hardware architecture (e.g., x86_64)?

Answer: uname -m

uname -m prints the machine hardware name, such as x86_64 or aarch64.

In a UEFI system, where is the EFI System Partition (ESP) typically mounted?

Answer: /boot/efi

The EFI System Partition is conventionally mounted at /boot/efi on Linux systems.

Which file in /proc contains information about the CPU(s) installed in the system?

Answer: /proc/cpuinfo

/proc/cpuinfo lists detailed information about each CPU core, including model, speed, and flags.

What does the term 'cold plug' mean in the context of Linux hardware management?

Answer: Devices present at boot time that are detected during system startup

Cold plug refers to hardware that is detected and initialized during the boot process rather than while the system is running.

Which partitioning scheme supports more than 4 primary partitions and disks larger than 2 TB?

Answer: GPT (GUID Partition Table)

GPT supports up to 128 partitions by default and addresses disks beyond 2 TB using 64-bit LBA addressing.